Image compensation apparatus and method

Abstract

An image compensation apparatus and method for compensating an image scanned using a micro scanning mirror is disclosed. The disclosed image correction apparatus includes a transform/storage unit for storing an original image consisting of image data having an M-row×N-column size, the transform/storage unit laterally reversing an order of the image data at intervals of one row, upon storing the original image, and storing the resultant image data of the original image, and a micro scanning mirror for horizontally scanning the image data read out from the transform/storage unit.

1 . An image correction apparatus comprising:
 a transform/storage unit for storing an original image consisting of image data having an M-row×N-column size, the transform/storage unit laterally reversing an order of the image data at intervals of one row, upon storing the original image, and storing the resultant image data of the original image; and   a micro scanning mirror for scanning the image data read out from the transform/storage unit.   
     
     
         2 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a storage controller for reading out, in a direction from the left to the right, the image data of an m-th row (1≦m≦M) in the image stored in the transform/storage unit, outputting the read image data to the micro scanning mirror, reading out, in the direction from the left to the right, the image data of an m+1-th row in the image stored in the transform/storage unit, and outputting the read image data to the micro scanning mirror.   
     
     
         3 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, upon storing the original image, the transform/storage unit laterally reverses an order of the image data of each even row, and storing the resultant image data of the original image. 
     
     
         4 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, upon storing the original image, the transform/storage unit laterally reverses an order of the image data of each odd row, and storing the resultant image data of the original image. 
     
     
         5 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the laterally-reversed image data is scanned in a blanking period. 
     
     
         6 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the transform/storage unit and the storage controller is included in a video signal processor for processing a video signal, and outputting the processed video signal to a light source. 
     
     
         7 . An image correction apparatus comprising:
 a transform/storage unit for storing an original image consisting of image data having an M-row×N-column size, together with a symmetrical image vertically symmetrical with the original image; and   a micro scanning mirror for scanning the image data read out from the transform/storage unit.   
     
     
         8 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a storage controller for reading out, in a downward direction, the image data of an n-th column (1≦n≦N) in the image stored in the transform/storage unit, outputting the read image data to the micro scanning mirror, reading out, in the downward direction, the image data of an n+1-th column in the image stored in the transform/storage unit, and outputting the read image data to the micro scanning mirror,   wherein the transform storage unit stores the symmetrical image, which consists of image data having the M-row×N-column size, beneath the original image having the M-row×N-column size such that the symmetrical image is vertically parallel to the original image while being adjacent to the original image.   
     
     
         9 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the transform/storage unit and the storage controller is included in a video signal processor for processing a video signal, and outputting the processed video signal to a light source. 
     
     
         10 . An image correction apparatus comprising:
 a video signal processor for processing an original image consisting of image data having an M-row×N-column size such that an order of the image data is reversed at intervals of at least one row; and   a light source for outputting an image in accordance with results of the processing of the video signal processor.   
     
     
         11 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the laterally-reversed image data is scanned in a blanking period. 
     
     
         12 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the video signal processor comprises a transform/storage unit for storing the laterally-reversed image data. 
     
     
         13 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the video signal processor further comprises a storage controller for reading out, in a direction from the left to the right, the image data of an m-th row (1≦m≦M) in the image data stored in the transform/storage unit, outputting the read image data to the light source, reading out, in the direction from the left to the right, the image data of an m+1-th row in the image data stored in the transform/storage unit, and outputting the read image data to the light source. 
     
     
         14 . The image correction apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a micro scanning mirror for scanning image data output from the light source.   
     
     
         15 . An image correction method carried out in an image correction apparatus adapted to scan image data using a micro scanning mirror, comprising:
 storing an original image consisting of image data having an M-row×N-column size after laterally reversing an order of the image data at intervals of one row; and   horizontally scanning the stored image data.   
     
     
         16 . The image correction method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 reading out the image data of an m-th row (1≦m≦M) in the stored image in a direction from the left to the right, reading out the image data of an m+1-th row in the stored image in the direction from the left to the right, and then proceeding to the scanning step.   
     
     
         17 . An image correction method carried out in an image correction apparatus adapted to scan image data using a micro scanning mirror, comprising:
 storing an original image consisting of image data having an M-row×N-column size, together with a symmetrical image vertically symmetrical with the original image; and   vertically scanning the stored image data.   
     
     
         18 . The image correction method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 reading out the image data of an n-th column (1≦n≦N) in the stored image data in a downward direction, reading out the image data of an n+1-th column in the stored image data in the downward direction, and proceeding to the scanning step,   wherein the storing step comprises storing the symmetrical image, which consists of image data having the M-row×N-column size, beneath the original image having the M-row×N-column size such that the symmetrical image is vertically parallel to the original image while being adjacent to the original image.   
     
     
         19 . An image correction method comprising:
 storing an original image consisting of image data having an M-row×N-column size such that an order of the image data is reversed at intervals of at least one row; and   outputting the image data of the stored image to a light source.   
     
     
         20 . The image correction method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 storing a symmetrical image vertically symmetrical with the original image, together with the original image.